Thermal analysis is defined as the measurement of changes in chemical or physical properties of a sample as a function of temperature or time in a controlled atmosphere. A special instrument called the TGA (thermogravimetric analysis) which consists of a furnace, weight balance and photodiode sensors is designed to make such measurements (Figure 1). TGA measures the amount and rate of change in the weight of a material as a function of temperature or time in a controlled atmosphere. Such measurements are used primarily to determine the composition of materials and to predict their thermal stability at temperatures up to 1000o C. The technique can also be used to characterize materials that exhibit weight loss or gain due to decomposition, oxidation or dehydration. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measures the heat flow of a material as a function of temperature or time in a controlled atmosphere.

Main Research: Dr Yeong Shoot Kian